Recycling opportunity coming to Pasadena

JENNIFER BRANCH

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, September 10, 2007

In fact, it moves so fast, that many times we're left with obsolete electronics just sitting around our homes.

Throwing things like televisions, laptops, desk top computers, and even cell phones, DVD's, CD's or VHS tapes can be harmful to the environment. This is why one Pasadena teacher worked to find a way to bring a recycling opportunity to local residents in October.

"There are grants you can apply for to take care of things like this, household waste, other (recyclable) materials like that," said Sam Metzger, engineering coordinator for public works for the City of Pasadena, "but we didn't get it."

Why would a grant be necessary to dispose of old electronics?

"It's actually pretty expensive to hold one of these things," explained Metzger. "The recycler usually charges a certain amount of money for things other than computer parts, and an additional fee for the computers themselves.

Usually what they do is put all of the computers on a pallet and run shrink wrap around it. A fee is charged per pound, and we expect that it would cost a city the size of Pasadena about $10,000. We've never been able to do that without a grant because there's just not money in the normal budget to handle something like that."

Carol Kinney, a teacher at Sam Rayburn, did not take no for an answer, however.

"She is absolutely on fire about recycling and cleaning up the environment," said Metzger.

The educator began research last year to determine what the city's options were as far as recycling old computers and other electronic devices.

"She found a guy who is on the EPA's approved list that recycles things like this, and he said that if she could fill an 18-wheeler with computer parts, he would do it completely and totally for free," explained Metzger. "This is absolutely wonderful."

Normally, someone who wished to recycle computer parts or other electronic devices would have to travel to Post Oak in Houston to the Houston Environmental Center to rid their homes of unwanted parts.

"If they're thrown away, the metals leach into the ground and we're filling up the landfills with stuff like that; stuff that can be recycled. It doesn't make sense," she said.

Kinney, said Metzger, took the initiative to bring the recycling opportunity to citizens, and now is trying to spread the word.

"Who knows," she said. "I know there are people in the city who want to get rid of their old computers and computer parts, and if we get enough, maybe he'll come back every year. It would be wonderful."

The company will take care of computers, DVD's, and cell phones completely free.

"And if you have things like televisions or other electronics hanging around, he'll get take those for a very nominal fee. He'll even wipe the hard drive on your computer for a measly $8 so you never have to worry about identity theft, if you want him to," she explained.

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The event will be held at the Pasadena United Methodist Church, located on Strawberry and Fairmont on Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. until 4 pm.